Deep Respect for this female soldier, Maureen OBrien will make history next week when she becomes the first female deputy commander of an Irish overseas army unit. The Galway native, who holds the rank of commandant, will act as second-in-command of 420 troops from the Western Brigade travelling to peace enforcement duty in Chad. Commandant OBrien was congratulated by Defence Minister Willie ODea and Army Chief of Staff Lt Gen Dermot Earley yesterday. Her appointment follows that of the first Irish female commander of a Navy vessel. Last November, Lt Commander Roberta OBrien (no relation) took charge of the naval patrol vessel LE Aisling. Commandant OBrien said she is looking forward to perhaps one day being appointed commander of an army unit. For now, she is delighted to serve under Lieutenant Colonel Ian Hanna, who will head up the Western Brigade battalion on its four-month tour of duty in Chad. The brigade will be relieving the members of the 95th Brigade, who are completing their stint in the troubled Central African state. Family Commandant OBrien admitted: It will be hard leaving family behind, but leaving home is part of the job. This will be my fifth overseas tour. Ive served twice in Lebanon and also in western Sahara, East Timor and Bosnia-Herzegovina. I am proud to be the first woman to act as deputy commander and especially when it is the Western Brigade, as I am from Galway. Yesterday, family and friends gathered for a gala farewell as the troops paraded and marched past the reviewing stand at Eyre Square in Galway in front of Mr ODea.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 06:16:19 +0000
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